The latest three-years-old feature of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, this year’s $200,000 Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) attracted a total of 17 entries.

Leading the early nominations as the highest-rated of the hopefuls is Teofilo colt who lost the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) on protest two back before winning the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 5.

Friday sees the three-time winner have his seventh career start, his first at Moonee Valley, and his first over further than a mile where the distance will be the test in the Alister Clark Stakes.

Five other last start winners also feature in the nominations including the flying John O’Shea-trained Tally who has won his past three on the trot this time in.

The Godolphin-raced Street Cry colt’s last start produced a February 27 win at Caulfield in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m), and he also has form at the track / distance when fifth to subsequent Crown Oaks winning filly Jameka in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) from last October.

Also on a three-straight winning streak heading into Friday night’s feature is the Michael Kent-trained Cranbourne galloper Hattori Hanzo.

The son of Sebring posted his first black-type win only last Saturday at Rosehill when scoring a narrow victory over Man Of Choice in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m).

Prior to that he saluted over 1514m at Moonee Valley where, if accepted, he’ll be running at on a short back-up in the Alister Clark.

The best represented stable is Lindsay Park’s David Hayes & Tom Dabernig with three hopefuls.

Encosta De Lago colt Sovereign Nation comes off an Australian Guineas ninth, Kiwi import He’s Our Rokki won over the Sandown-Lakeside mile on March 2 while Flying Light saluted over the 2040m at Moonee Valley before a second to Tally in the Autumn Classic last time out.

Along with Tally (1st) and Flying Light (2nd) the other best Autumn Classic graduates nominated for the Alister Clark this season are third-placed Top Ravine for Blue Diamond Stakes winning trainer Mick Price and fourth placegetter Patch Adams.

Other notable hopefuls include Lonhro colt Data Point coming off a Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) sixth from March 5 and Peter Moody’s dual winner over the distance in easier company Last Typhoon.

See below for the full Alister Clark Stakes 2016 nominations, the final field and barrier draw set for release on Wednesday.

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